Ghost’s Tobias Forge Reveals He Suffered a Panic Attack During Leeds Performance

Ghost frontman Tobias Forge has revealed how a severe panic attack during a 2015 UK show forced him to stop mid-performance and transformed the way he approaches touring. In an interview with Metal Hammer, Forge singled out a December 2015 concert at Leeds Beckett University as the moment he realized that the full-face masks he wore as Papa Emeritus were becoming a real obstacle.

Struggling With Claustrophobia on Stage

Over the years, Forge developed claustrophobia linked to the masks, describing the suffocating feeling of being completely enclosed, especially with something covering his throat. During the performance of “Con Clavi Con Dio,” the panic attack hit unexpectedly, forcing him to leave the stage and remove his costume to regain composure. His anxiety was compounded by the venue’s layout and the recent trauma of the Bataclan attack in Paris just weeks earlier. “I was told there was only one entrance into the venue; you had to walk in on the right side of the stage, past the stage, and then into a backstage area. So, essentially, you couldn’t get out. You were locked in. That was what I was told.” Mid-set, Forge suddenly felt trapped and urgently needed to find an exit. “I was like, ‘I need to know where the door is… I can’t get to the door. Stop! Stop! Get the mask off!’ I had to get everything off. Restart the whole thing.”

Adapting for Comfort and Confidence

It turned out there was a second exit at the venue that Forge had not been informed about. “We had to have a guard come and show me — lo and behold, there was another door,” he said. Since that night, knowing where the exits are has become essential for Forge’s peace of mind. “I need to know where the door out is. I need to know how I get out. As long as I know how to get out, we’re good.”

Forge has since performed hundreds of shows without incident, having learned to manage his panic attacks effectively. “I haven’t had any problems with it. I know it works. I know how to deal with it. It’s definitely in the back of your head, that that can happen, but it’s just a panic attack. It’s nothing dangerous.” To help alleviate his claustrophobia, his current Papa V Perpetua mask is designed to expose more of his face, freeing his mouth and throat to breathe more easily. Looking ahead, Ghost recently announced the next leg of their world tour supporting their critically acclaimed Skeletá album, with a series of North American shows planned for early next year—promising fans more of the band’s trademark theatricality, now with a little extra comfort for Forge.

Ghost Skeletour North American tour dates 2026
Jan 21: Orlando Kia Center
Jan 22: Jacksonville VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
Jan 24: Knoxville Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
Jan 25: Charlotte Spectrum Center
Jan 26: Greenville Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Jan 28: Uncasville Mohegan Sun Arena
Jan 30: Montreal Bell Centre
Jan 31: Toronto Scotiabank Arena
Feb 02: Columbus Nationwide Arena
Feb 04: Cincinnati Heritage Bank Center
Feb 05: Peoria Peoria Civic Center Arena
Feb 07: Tulsa BOK Center
Feb 10: Salt Lake City, UT Delta Center
Feb 12 Spokane: Spokane Arena
Feb 14: Vancouver Rogers Arena
Feb 15: Seattle Climate Pledge Arena
Feb 17: Portland Moda Center
Feb 20: Sacramento Golden 1 Center
Feb 21: Anaheim Honda Center
Feb 23: Inglewood Intuit Dome